Stiffening and contouring means



July 27, 1965 M. HALSTEAD 3,196,460

STIFFENING AND GONTOURING MEANS Filed Nov. 27, 1961 2 Sheets-*Sheet 1 INVENTOR. l3 l3 MARIAN HALSTEAD July 27, 1965 M. HALSTEAD STIFFENING AND CONTOURING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 2'7, 1961 FIG.9

FIG. IO

INVENTOR MARIAN HALSTEAD ATTORNEY United States Patent STIFFENING AND CGNTGURENG MEANS Marian Halstearl, 25 Graniercy Parks, New York, N.Y. Filed Nov. 27, 1961, Ser. No. 154,974 Claims. (ill. 2-255) This invention relates to stiffening and contour means adapted for utilization in garments, such as brassieres, corsets, or other similar undergarments, as well as in other articles of apparel requiring stiffening and/or contour means, as for example, along a hem-line or the like.

The use of presently known stiffening means, such as boning, wires, and stays have been greatly restricted in their utilization because of the inherent structural limitations which permit only a particular application to a specific stiffening need. Such known stiffening means, because of their thickness, and substantial rigidity are restricted in their flexibility upon a limited plane, and lack the variability necessary for utilization in providing contour and stiffening, particularly to a straight and/ or sinuous area.

It is the object of this invention to provide stiffening and contour means adapted to be particularly suitable for use in supplying such means to straight and/ or sinuous areas of a garment.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of stiffening means adapted to furnish support and reinforcement to various types of apparel requiring a degree of articulation, so as to conform to the natural contours of the wearer.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an articulated stiffening device responsive to the variabilities of design construction and body contour of an article of apparel.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a contour device adapted to furnish support and control to body tissue and which is responsive to variability on more than one plane, and which may be adapted for utilization in a straight and/or sinuous area of an item of wearing apparel.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of stiffening and contour means of a resilient material responsive to bodily movement which stiffening and contour characteristics will be unaffected by laundering or other cleaning processes.

A further object herein is the provision of a stiffening device through which a machine sewing needle may pass without breakage.

In accomplishing the foregoing, and other objects of the present invention, there is provided a plurality of substantially fiat, resilient members of a particular geometric substantially peripheral shape each swivelly secured in partial overlapping relationship with respect to one another to form an elongated stiffening device. Each of the members forming the stiffening device are joined to each other to form an articulated stiffening device which may be combined, lengthened, or shortened as the needs of a particular class to which such stiffening means being applied, changes. The articulation of the segments or members forming the device according to the present in vention specifically permits responsiveness to sinuous areas and flexibility on a tri-dimensional plane so as to yield to all types of body movements without any perceptible detraction of its primary molding and contouring characteristics.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those versed in the art from the following description of the present invention as illustrated in the drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a brassiere incorporating therein the stiffening and contour means according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of a hem-line of a length of fabric illustrating the use therein of the stiffening and contour means of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an articulated stiffening device similar to that utilized in FIG. 2 assuming a substantially triangular contour;

FIG. 4 is a further view of an articulated stiffening device similar to FIGS. 2 and 3, assuming a substantially oval configuration;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a further view of an articulated stiffening device assuming a substantially oval configuration showing a further jointure;

FIG. 7 is a cross-section taken on line 77 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an articulated stiffening device assuming an oval configuration, the segments thereof shown joined by tack stitching;

FIG. 9 is a view taken on line 9-9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an articulated stiffening device shown assuming a substantially triangular configuration, the segments thereof joined by lacing; and

FIG. 11 is a view taken on line 1ll1 of FIG. 10.

Referring now to the drawing, the stiffening and contour means if is shown by way of example, in FIG. 1, as being utilized in a conventional brassiere 29, and in FIG. 2 utilized in a garment St).

A conventional brassiere 24), shown by way of example is illustrated in FIG. 1 and comprises a body portion 21 adapted to encircle the thoraxic area of the body of a wearer. A pair of bust cups 22, 23, secured to the body portion 21, generally assumes a convex configuration to conform to the contour of the breasts, and is provided with an inner pocket 24 adapted to lie against the epidermal tissues of the wearer, and an outer pocket 25 overlaying inner pocket 24. stiffening and contour means 10, adapted to provide the required stiffening, support and contour to the figure is disposed between said inner pocket 24 and outer pocket 25 along the perimeter thereof, and comprises a plurality of substantially flat, individual members 11 fabricated of a substantially resilient material such as plastic, stiffened weaves, metals, nylons or the like. Each of said members 11 are joined to each other in partially overlapping relationship by swivel locking means 12, so that each member if, when joined in partial overlapping relationship with another, forms an articulated device 10. It will be noted that the length of the device is merely dependent upon the addition or subtraction of individual members 11 forming the device.

Members 11 may assume an oval shape, as illustrated in FIGS. 4, 6, and 8, or a substantially triangular configuration as shown in FIGS. 3 and 10, or even an elon gated oval configuration as shown in FIG. 2. In each of the aforementioned examples, it is to be noted that a particular shape may be more desirable for the utilization of said stiffening and contour means it). For example, where it is desired to furnish stiffening means to a scalloped hem line 31 as illustrated in FIG. 2, an elongated oval configuration may be better suited for such purposes rather than a triangular shape.

Each of said members H are swivelly joined by connecting locking means 12 at any point along their length or breadth. It is contemplated, however, that members 11 of a particular shape which are joined together will be uniformly joined although members having locking means 12 intermediate their length, for example, may be joined with members having locking means 12 along the top or even bottom thereof, as the needs of a particular situation requires.

In order to result in a sinuous, articulated structure if), the locking means 12 may assume an arcuate slit 13 11, asshown in FIGS. 2-, 3, and 4, so that jointure is- 1' effected by interlocking of each arcuate slit 13 with the Members 11 may additionally be joined by proother. viding an aperturei14 at one side of member 11 and a slitted leg15 at the opposite side thereof, so that the slitted leg 15 of one member is adapted to fit Within.

the aperture 14 of an adjoining member. In a further embodiment, FIG. 8 illustrates locking means 12in which each of said members. 11 are joined by. tacking 16 so that the swivel characteristics of the articulated device 10 is maintained. 1

Members 11 may additionally be joined by providing apertures 16 on opposite sides thereof through which a tape 17 may be effectively laced, as illustrated in FIG 10 It is to be noted that once a particular sinuous contour is arrived at to fit the needs of a particular use, any suitable stitching 18, or other means", may beemployed toretain the configuration desired.

While specific embodiments of my invention may have been described, it is apparent that'changes and modifications may be made therein, and the structure as so modifj fied or changed will invention.

I claim: 1. An articulated stiffening and contouring device comprising: w i

stiffening means; said stiffening means comprising, in turn:

a plurality of individual generally flat resilient members having: i I a periphery of a particular geometric contour; said' members being disposed in partially overlapping relationship with "respect to one another at said periphery; and 1 swivel connecting means for articulately joining said members in the aforesaid overlapping relationship; enabling said members to individually and constill fall withinjthe ambit "of my jointly respond to variations in forces applied thereto at more than one plane, and further enabling said stiifening device to be responsive to the contour of substantially planar and curvilinear areas. i

2. An articulated stiffening and countouringdevice as defined in claim 1, wherein:

said swivel, connecting means comprises: a pair Of hQOk-llkfi slits disposed substantially peripherally of ,each of said members;

'4 said slits being particularly adapted to articulately join said members in a swivelly interlocking substantially peripheral overlapping relationship with respect to one another. 3. An articulated stiffening and contouring device as defined in claim 1, wherein:

said swivelly interlocked members are detachably interlocked relative to one another. 4. An articulated stiffening and contouring device as defined in claim 1, wherein: 1

said swivel connecting meanscomprises: e

an aperture disposed substantially adjacent one of a plurality of'sides.- of each ofsaid members,

and a a leg dispos'ed substantially adjacent another of I said plurality 'ofsides; a the leg of one of said members being particularly adapted to be mutually cooperatively engageable with and within the aperture of an adzjacent member toarticulately join said members in a swivelly interlocking substantially peripheral overlapping relationship with respect to one another. '5. -An articulated stiffening and'contouring device as defined in claim 1, wherein: 1 i v said swivel connecting meanscomprises:

tacking particularly adapted for articulately joining said members in a swivelly interconnecting relationship with respect to one another at the said periphery thereof. i

References Cited'by the Examiner 'DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner.

' ADELE M. EAGER, Examiner, 

1. AN ARTICULATED STIFFENING AND CONTOURING DEVICE COMPRISING: STIFFENING MEANS; SAID STIFFENING MEANS COMPRISING, IN TURN: A PLURALITY OF INDIVIDUAL GENERALLY FLAT RESILIENT MEMBERS HAVING: A PERIPHERY OF A PARTICULAR GEOMETRIC CONTOUR; SAID MEMBERS BEING DISPOSED IN PARTIALLY OVERLAPPING RELATIONSHIP WITH RESPECT TO ONE ANOTHER AT SAID PERIPHERY; AND SWIVEL CONNECTING MEANS FOR ARTICULATELY JOINING SAID MEMBERS IN THE AFORESAID OVERLAPPING RELATIONSHIP; ENABLING SAID MEMBERS TO INDIVIDUALLY AND CONJOINTLY RESPOND TO VARIATIONS IN FORCES APPLIED THERETO AT MORE THAN ONE PLANE, AND FURTHER ENABLING SAID STIFFENING DEVICE TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THE CONTOUR OF SUBSTANTIALLY PLANAR AND CURVILINEAR AREAS. 